Refrigerating apparatus



NOV. l, 1932. B HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed June so, 195o' 2 sheets-sheet 1 'we mxmmwmmx 1 3 5 lb 0 z 4 n 9 y 5 8 4 n 5 k/ IN KENT @R N A TTORNE Y Nov. l, 1932. H. B. HULL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Fi1ed June-so, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 INV .NTO BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATl-:N'r- OFFICE HARRY B. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application led June 30,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the type which condenses moisture n from the air and more particularly to apparatus for withdrawing the condensed moisture from said refrigerating apparatus.

One of the objects of the present lnvention is to provide automatic means for withdrawing the atmospheric condensation from an evaporator where an ordinary gravity disposal apparatus cannot be used.

More specifically it is an ob]ect to provlde, in an apparatus for cooling circulating a1r including refrigerant circulating v element having an evaporator for treating the circulated air means for withdrawing the atmospheric condensation from said evaporator by the action of said refrigerant circulating element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown;

85 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerating apparatus embodying features of my invention Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in ele- 80 vation and partly broken away, of a refrigerating apparatus forming a part of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in cross section of the means employed for withdrawing the condensation from the evaporator.

In an apparatus for cooling rooms in buildings there is generally a considerable amount of atmospheric moisture deposited which must be removed from the room.

In many instances a gravity drain system cannot be installed or is undesirable. My invention is concerned with automatic means for removing the atmospheric moisture from the room in a simple and effective manner, and particularly by utilizing forces inherent in the apparatus for removing the moisture from the room.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates in general an apparatus for cooling and circulating air such, for ex- A22 forming an air treatin REISSUED ample, as in rooms. The room coolin apparatus 20 comprises in general a ca inet zone 24. The cabinet 22 is provided wit louvers 25 on the front panel thereof to permit air to enter 55 the air cooling zone 24 under the suction of an electrically o erated fan 27 whence the air is discharge by said fan through an opening 28. The air circulating through the treating zone 24 is cooled by an evaporator 60 30 comprising a plurality of cooling coils 3l.- The cooling coils 31 are connected in series by means of pipe 33 and are vertically disposed within the cabinet 32. The coils 31 are supported by a moisture or drip pan 35 o5 carried by the cabinet 22. Refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator 30 by means of a refrigerant circulating and liquefying element of which the evaporater 30 forms a part thereof, under the control of 7o an expansion valve 43. Refrigerantis delivered to the coils 31 through a liquid refrigerant pipe 44 and is withdrawn through a suction pipe 46. The refrigerant circulating andgliquefying element also includes 75 a compresser operatively connected with the motor 51 by belt 52. The compressor 50 compresses the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to a water cooled condenser 57 1930. Serial No. 485,021.

through a pipe 58.` The gaseous refrigerant 80 is liquefied in the condenser 57 and from which it is delivered to the pipe 44. A thermostat 60 is connected by pipe 61 to an eX- pansible element 61a and is adapted to control the operation of a switch 62 which connects 85 the motor 51 to the power mains 64. The thermostat 60 is secured to the-suction pipe 46 which returns thegaseous refrigerant to the compressor 50, for example, to the crankcase thereof. Thus the thermostat 60 con- 90 tr'ols the operation of the switch 62 in response to the temperature of the pipe 46 to thereby prevent refrigerating action beyond the air treating zone 24.

In order to liquefy the gaseous refrigerant 95 in the condenser 57 I have provided an automatically controlled water iow apparatus comprising a coil having. an inlet 72 controlled by an automatic valve 74 actuated by an expansible bellows 76 having a pipe .the automatically controlled valve and its manner of operation is to be found in the atent to R. E. Bechtold et al, issued Decemer 25, 1923. v

In a room cooling apparatus of the type hereinbefore 'described considerable atmospheric moisture will be likel to collect on the evaporator 30 to be receive pan 35. Thus I have provided automatic means for withdrawing the atmospheric condensation from the evaporator which collects in the moisture pan 35 and have arranged sald means for withdrawing water from the pan 35 by the action of the Water flow apparatus operating, preferably, concomitantly with the refrigerant circulating ,and liquefying apparatus. The means for removing the condensation from' the evaporator 30 includes av venturi 90 having a connection with the water iiow coil 70.and th'e outlet pipe 80. The venturi 90 is provided with a pipe connection 92 which leads to an outlet 95 provided in the moisture pan 35. By this arrangement the action of the water iowing through the water flow apparatus and through the venturi will cause a suction in the pipe 92 which will withdraw the water from the pan 35 and carry said water of tothe waste or drain pipe 80. This arrangement is particularly advantageous where the cooling apparatus is nstalled in oiice buildings or 'the like as, for instance, in an installation as shown in Fig. 1 wherein there is shown diagrammatically an oice building divided into a` plurality of rooms 100, 101, 102 and 103. In this arrangement the room cooling apparatus is shown located in the room 100 for cooling said room while the compressor, motor and condensing unit is shown located in the apartment 103 which may be the basement of the building.'

In many Ainstances the place where the room cooling apparatus is located is owned by one person while the room'immediatelybelow the room where the apparatus is located is owned by another which would prevent the installation of a gravity drain pipe and other pipes leading from the room cooling apparatus to l the compressor condensing unit. In this case it would 'be necessary to extend the pipes to the top of the room 100 and across the room or apartment 101, which may be a hallway,

in the moisture From the foregoing it vwill be noted that I have provided a room cooling apparatus of the typle which includes an evaporator vand that ave arranged for automatically withdrawing the atmospheric condensation from said evaporator by the action of the refrigerant circulating and liquefying apparatus. By this arrangement the necessity of manually emptying the drain pan is obviated. The present arrangement is particularly advantageous in oilice buildings, for instance, over week ends and when there is no attendant in the building for emptyin the pan.

While the form of em diment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerant circulating system including an evaporator and a Water cooled condenser, said condenser having a water iow circuit associated therewith, a pan disposed below the evaporator for receiving moisture collected upon said evaporator, and means connected with the water How circuit of said condenser and to said pan and having a portion thereof extending a substantial distance above said pan, said means being rendered elective for removing water from said pan by the iow of water .through said water circult of ,said condenser.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerant circulating system including an evaporator and a water cooled condenser, said condenser having a water flow circuit associated therewith, a pan disposed below the evaporator for receiving molsture collected upon said evaporator, and a Venturi device interposed in the water flow circuit of said condenser, a conduit connected to said Venturi device and to said pan and having a portion thereof extending a substantial distance above the pan, said Venturi device being rendered effective for removing water from said pan by the flow of water through said water circuit of said condenser.`

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed refrigerant c1rculating system including an evaporator normally tending to collect moisture thereon, said systern also includin a condenser, a cooling fluid medium flowmg in heat exchange relationship with said condenser, means for receiving water dripping from said evaporator, and means communicating with and extending above said irst named means, said last named means being rendered effective by the cooling fluid flow for removing water upwardly from said first named means.

In testimony whereof I hereto ailix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL. 

